Patent Application
20090179534
A drawer interlocking mechanism apparatus, particularly relates to a mechanical interlocking apparatus installed among a plurality of neighboring drawers. When one of drawers is pulled open, the other drawers are locked automatically to keep unopened drawers closed tightly to smoothen the opening or closing movements of the drawers, and to prevent the risk of tilting or even falling due to the heavy loads of two drawers imposed on the cabinet body under the situation where they are opened simultaneously.
Among most storing apparatus inventions, a drawer is a well developed and pervasive apparatus. Due to the simple function and easy design of a drawer, even though the drawer has been invented for a long time, actual improvements on the function and complexity of the design are rare. Therefore it is necessary to make improvements on a conventional drawer to make it more functional.
As to a drawer, the main structure is no more than a box shaped article with an opened top. It is installed on an article, such as a cabinet, table or etc., which has a proper channel to allow a drawer to slide into. In order to operate conveniently, there is track and sliding slot installed between drawer and channel. Conventionally the track and sliding slot are made by wood. In modern industry they are replaced by metal to decrease friction and increase the smoothness of the opening or closing of a drawer. Furthermore, rolling spheres or rolling wheels are placed on the track and the sliding slot to further enhance the smoothness of the opening or closing of the drawer.
However, a conventional drawer still has shortcomings and needs to be improved. First, due to the space arrangement, most articles containing drawers are not designed with a single drawer. Instead, a number of drawers are generally arranged from top to bottom in the same article and each drawer operates independently. During the operation of multiple drawers, the operator has to open or close each drawer one by one to take out or put items into a drawer. If the operator is busy or careless, he may forget to close the opened drawer first and continue to open another drawer. Because two open drawers may be too heavy for the cabinet body, such an improper operation may easily cause the risk of the cabinet body to tilt or even to fall down and result in an accident or injury.
Furthermore, even though the operator is cautious and will not forget to close a drawer, opening or closing a single drawer may cause other non-operating drawers to slide out of the cabinet due to the vibration resulting from the large force applied on the cabinet. Such an incident is easier to occur on a drawer, which has the design of the abovementioned rolling spheres or rolling wheels installed on the track and sliding slot.
As a result, there is a need to design a structure which operates conveniently and smoothly, and automatically locks the other unopened drawers when a drawer is opened or closed to achieve stable closing. Generally, such a structure adopts the design of linkages, which connect each neighboring drawer together. When one of drawers is opened or closed, the other drawers are locked by a linkage. However, the design of linkages requires more components and is more complicated to assemble. It also increases drawer's weight, manufacturing costs and the possibility of malfunctioning. Consequently, its utility is limited. The novel structure of US patent with U.S. Pat. No. 6,779,855 adopts pull cords. Similarly, pull cords connect all neighboring drawers. When one of drawers is opened or closed, the other drawers are locked by the pull cord. However, the structure of the conventional patent is still too complicated and requires many precise parts and manufacturing costs. In addition, it is not convenient for maintenance. Especially when the fastener structure of the previous patent is not sealed properly. When the operator does not apply force properly, the pull cord may become loose causing a serious malfunction thereby making the whole drawer unusable.
In order to solve the disadvantages of the abovementioned conventional structure on a practical application, the inventor of the present invention has successfully invented a drawer interlocking mechanism apparatus based on many years of experiences in the industrial practice and development.
The primary aspect of the present invention is to provide a drawer interlocking mechanism apparatus, which is easy to operate. When a drawer is pulled open, the other drawers are locked automatically and kept unopened drawers closed tightly to prevent human negligence.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a drawer interlocking mechanism apparatus, which is safe to use. Only a single drawer can be opened during operation. No more than one drawer can be opened simultaneously. The operator will not be injured or the article will not be damaged as a result of the force not being applied properly by the operator or by negligence. In addition, because the unopened drawers are locked, the integrity and privacy of the contents in the drawer are assured.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a drawer interlocking mechanism apparatus that is low-cost and has a stable structure without altering the outer shape of the drawer or requiring a corresponding sliding slot. Besides, the present invention is an integral package and does not have many components. The manufacturing and installation is relatively easy in order to decrease the chance of malfunction. Additionally, the present invention is provided with a proper locking structure to prevent the pull cord from loosening and further increases the stability of the product.
The drawer interlocking mechanism apparatus containing the above-mentioned aspects is installed on a drawer, particularly related to a drawer driven by using secured plates and cooperating with sliding plates. A drawer is installed inside a preset channel of an article. A secured plate is installed on one side or both sides of the channel and linked with a sliding plate, which is installed on one side or both sides of the drawer correspondingly. The sliding plate and secured plate are connected via a sliding sleeve. Consequently, the sliding plate moves on the secured plate indirectly to create a function of opening or closing the drawer. The interlocking structure is installed on one side of the article or on two sides of the article concurrently based upon the quantities of the sliding plates and secured plates. Then by the same application, the sliding plates are installed at a plurality of drawers that are in the article. By using a preset pull cord of the interlocking structure, a plurality of drawers are connected in a series. When one of the drawers is open, the other drawers are locked concurrently.
In addition to the abovementioned pull cord, the interlocking structure also comprises a sliding block. The sliding block is installed inside a main case plate. The sliding block is provided with a positioning fastener. There are more than one secured fasteners installed inside the main case plate. The secured fastener and positioning fastener work together to fasten and position the pull cord in order to protect and prevent the pull cord from loosening. On the opposite side to the positioning fastener is a positioning post. A rotary disc controls the positioning post. The bottom of the rotary disc is connected to the main case plate with a rotary axis to rotate. There is also an advancing route sleeved on the positioning post. The surface of the rotary disc is further installed with a plurality of push rods.
Additionally, an inner track guiding plate is installed on the sliding plate and moves when the drawer is opened or closed. A guiding route is installed on one end of the inner track guiding plate. The guiding route is sleeved on the push rod of the rotary disc. The movement of opening or closing a drawer pushes the rotary disc to rotate synchronously. By means of the abovementioned apparatus, the pull cord becomes wedged between the secured fastener of the main case plate and the positioning fastener of the sliding block. When a drawer is pulled open, the inner track guiding plate guides the push rod by the guiding route in order to rotate the rotary disc. The rotary disc adjusts the sliding block via the positioning post due to the change of the advancing route. As a result, the positioning fastener of the sliding block is opened relative to the secured fastener and pulls the pull cord. The both ends of the pull cord then lock the other drawers synchronously.
The drawings disclose an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, which serves to exemplify the various advantages and objects hereof, and are as follows:
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The pull cord 9 is fastened on the positioning fastener 61 of the sliding block 6, and a secured fastener 105a and secured fastener 105b, which are fastened and hung on inside of the main case plate 10. The pull cord 9, the main case plate, the sliding block 6, the rotary disc 7 and inner track guiding plate 8 are installed on the secured plate 3 located at a lateral portion of the article 2.
The rotary disc 7 is composed with a rotary axis 71. The rotary axis 71 is sleeved inside the axis hole 106 of the main case plate 10 in order to rotate the rotary disc 7. The other end of the rotary disc inserts into positioning post 62. By means of rotating and controlling the sliding block 6 induces the movement of the pull cord 9. The surface of the rotary disc 7 is provided with a push rod 73 and a push rod 74.
The inner track guiding plate 8 is installed on the sliding plate 4 and moves as the drawer is opened or closed. One side of the inner track guiding plate 8 is sleeved on the push rod 73 and push rod 74. The opening or closing movement of a drawer pushes the rotary disc 7 to rotate synchronously so as to control the sliding block 6 to pull the pull cord 9.
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Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
